Back From the Dead — Again
Brendan Fraser has been photographed on set of the long-awaited fourth instalment of The Mummy franchise for the first time, and the images are already sending fans into a frenzy. Shot at MOD Woodbridge in Suffolk, the first-look pictures show the Oscar-winning actor reprising his beloved role as adventurer Rick O'Connell — and they offer a tantalising clue about where the story is headed next.
Fraser, 57, was pictured at the wheel of a striking silver-and-red rocket car during what appears to be a high-speed trials sequence, dressed in a leather jacket, matching trousers and brown gloves, with a heavily worn crash helmet tucked under his arm between takes. Background actors were spotted in Rick O'Connell Racing tracksuits, while the vehicle itself bore the words "Great Britain Speed Shop" on its side, along with British and American flags on the tail.
A 24-Year Leap Forward
The imagery confirms that the opening sequence is set at a 1957 speed trials event — a detail that carries significant weight for fans of the franchise. With The Mummy Returns taking place in 1933, the new film jumps forward 24 years, placing an older, presumably wearier Rick O'Connell in a very different world from the one audiences last saw him in.
The original Mummy film was set in 1926, meaning Fraser's character would be well into his fifties by the time of this latest adventure — a detail the production appears to be leaning into rather than glossing over.
"I guess I'll just be careful and completely comfortable telling the stunt team, 'You're going to be great in this shot, go get it'," Fraser said ahead of filming, adding: "It's like seeing an old friend again."
A stunt double was called in for the more demanding driving sequences, though Fraser was very much present on set, at one point appearing to place the helmet on a young child's head during a break between takes.
The Original Gang, Reassembled
Fraser is joined once again by Rachel Weisz, who returns as Evelyn O'Connell for the first time since The Mummy Returns — the pair's reunion marking a gap of 25 years on screen. Weisz was previously photographed filming scenes in London, outside the British Museum. Also back in the fold are John Hannah as Jonathan Carnahan, Oded Fehr as Ardeth Bay, Kevin J. O'Connor as Beni Gabor, and Arnold Vosloo as Imhotep.
The film will serve as a direct continuation of The Mummy Returns, pointedly ignoring the events of 2008's The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor — the instalment in which Maria Bello stepped in for Weisz as Evelyn. The decision to sideline that chapter of the franchise and reunite the original core cast has been met with considerable enthusiasm from audiences who grew up with the series.
A Career Comeback Worth Celebrating
Fraser's return to one of his most iconic roles comes off the back of one of Hollywood's most celebrated comebacks. The actor enjoyed a remarkable career resurgence after returning to the industry in 2018, culminating in winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2023 for his performance in The Whale.
"I always liked the idea of returning to The Mummy and always will," Fraser told Radio Times earlier this year, reflecting on the role that first made him a household name more than 25 years ago.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett — the duo behind the recent Scream revival — the as-yet-untitled fourth Mummy film is scheduled for release by Universal Pictures on 15 October 2027. Whether further scenes will be shot in Suffolk remains unclear, but for now, Rick O'Connell is very much back — and looking rather comfortable at the wheel of a rocket car.
